Charlotte Scott

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Charlotte Angas Scott D.Sc.(Lond.) (June 8, 1858 – November 10, 1931, Cambridge, England) was a British mathematician who spent the later of her career in the United States and was influential in the development of American mathematics, including the mathematical education of women.

Scott played an important role in Cambridge changing its rules for the Tripos exam. In 1880, Scott obtained special permission to take the Tripos, as women were not normally allowed to sit for the exam. She scored eighth on the Tripos, but due to her unofficial status, the title of "eighth wrangler" went to a male student. At the ceremony, after the seventh wrangler had been announced, all the students in audience shouted her name. After this incident women were allowed to formally take the exam and their exam scores listed, although separately from the men's and thus not included in the rankings. Women obtaining the necessary score also received a special certificate instead of the BA degree with honors.

Educated at Girton College, Cambridge from 1876 to 1880, she was then a Resident Lecturer in Mathematics there until 1884. In 1885 she was the first British woman to receive a doctoral degree.

Moving to the United States, she was Associate Professor of Mathematics at Bryn Mawr College Pennsylvania from 1885 to 1888 and Professor from 1885 to 1917. During this period she directed the Ph.D. theses of many pioneering women mathematicians. On retirement she settled in Cambridge.

She presented the silver challenge cup for Girton and Newnham Lawn Tennis Doubles in 1883.

In 1906 Scott served as Vice-President of the American Mathematical Society.

[edit] Publications

  • Scott, Charlotte A. (1894) Modern Analytical Geometry, Macmillan.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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